Wheel aligning stand



July 20, 1948. HORTON 2,445,397

' WHEEL ALIGNING STAND Filed June 7, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a InventorAlfred George Horton, 3s r Q July 20, 1948. A. G. HORTON 7 2,445,397

WHEEL ALIGNING STAND Filed June 7, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A mi, r jInventor WWW y20 194s. AG. HORTON: 2,445,397

WHEEL ALIGNING STAND Filed June 7, 1945 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor4Zfrea Geozye 920mm,

WWW Em July 20, 1948. A. G. HORTON WHEEL ALIGNING STAND 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed June '7, 1945 Patented July 20, 1948 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICEWHEEL ALIGNING STAND Alfred George Horton, Jacksonville, Fla.Application June 7, 1945, Serial No. 598,,1A1

2 fllaims. 1

This invention relates to garage equipment and has for an object toprovide'a wheel aligning stand provided with a 'slidable reaction bar.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheel aligning standformed under floor surface level and having an adjustable reaction bar.A further object of my invention is to provide a wheel aligning stand soarranged that an automobile, trailer, or truck may be driven thereonfrom level, a pit being provided under the stand and areacticn bar towhich the axle of the vehicle maybe secured, the bar being adjustable tothe position of the axle either when straight or at any angle relativeto the stand, and may be adjusted for both camber and caster adjustmentof the vehicle -wheels.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawingsinwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my stand,

Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof,

Figure '3 is a side elevational view seen from line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a sectional View on line of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a reaction bar, and

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9!! thereof. I

In the specification now to follow, as well as in the accompanyingdrawings, like reference characters indicate like par-ts and in whichI2, is a wheel aligning stand, built within a prefer ably cement pit l3,of such-depth that the top of the superstructure of the stand will be ona level with the floor M, of a garage or other place where the stand islocated. I V

Upon the bottom wall I5, of the pit, are two spaced apart I-beam piersl6 and IT, each tapering from the bottom l8, to the top l9, thereof.Seated upon said tops are the ends 20 and 2|, of a lintel 22, which isformed of a pair of channel irons 23 and 24, the flanges 26 and 25respectively, of which are turned in and welded to the flanges 21 and 28respectively, of the said piers l6 and H, the bottom flanges 29 and 30,of which are anchored by bolts 3| and 32, embedded in the cement ofbottom cement floor [5, as at 33 and 34.

Bolted to the'flanges 35 and 36, of the channel irons 28 and 24, at thefree end '20, of said lintel is an oak board '38, topped by a steelplate 39, the

inner edge 40, of the board being beveled to overreach a turntablesupporting plate 4 I ,for a single wheel turntable (not shown). Inwardlyof said plate on the said flanges 35 and 36, is another board 42, theouter end 43, of which is beveled to over-reach the plate H, on its side44. This board extends from said plate 4|, tothe wall 15, against whichit abuts. Seated upon the board 42, is a wheel runway steel plate 46,which with the board is boitedto said flanges 3'5 and 36, and the rearend 41, of which alsoabuts the walll5.

This plate is on a common horizontal plane with the floor It. The inneredge 48, of plate 46, is turned up vertically to form a guide flange fora car wheel '43, The inner end 2|, of the lintel is secured to the wall45, by flanges 5B and bolts 5| Welded to the upper free edges 52 and 53,of

channel members 23 and 24, are sockets 54 and 55, into which the posts56 and 51, of a stop bar 55, are adapted to seat. This stop will limitthe forward movement of a car on the stand, but it is removable when inthe way of a mechanic. The plate 4|, is provided with a cut-out 59, the

purpose of which will later be referred to.

Welded to the face '60, of channel iron 24, along the entire lower edge6| thereof, is an angle iron 62, the horizontal flange 63 of which formsone track member, upon which is slidably seated one bar 65, is formed oftwo parallel I-beams 6-! and 68, held spaced apart by spacer plates 69and 70, at said ends 34 and 66; these plates have projecting from themupper edges H. and I2, tongues '13 and 1 4, which seat between theopposing edges 15 and 16, of the upper flanges 11 and I8, of saidI-beams 61 and 68. These plates 69 and ill, are welded to the saidbeams. These beams have mounted thereon clamp members 19 and 80, each ofwhich are formed alike and each comprise a saddle plate 8|, seated uponthe upper flanges l1 and T8, of the beams 61 and 68, spanning the space184, between said edges 15 and '15. A bolt 85, connects the plate 8|,with a similar plate 86, mounted upon the lower threaded end 81, of saidbolt and held thereto by a nut 88. The plate 86, however, is providedaxle thereover. Handle bars 91 and 98, are pro-' vided by means of whichthe reaction bar 65', may easily be moved. The clamps 19 and 89,

are slidably adjustable on member 65, whereby they may be shifted whennecessary for connection to chains or other-implements and they may bereadily tightened by means of said nuts 88. I

The cut-outs 59 and 59', in plates 4| and 4|, are provided in order thatthe work bench 65, may be brought into alignment therewith and raised atone end or the other for camber adjustment of a wheel. 100, of saidplate 4|, is supported by brackets HH and I92, and the projecting edgesI03, of boards 38 and 42, may be supported by suitable braces (notshown).

By providing a movable reaction bar, or bench 65, in lieu of the usualfixedbar used for a similar purpose, the mechanic is allowed perfectfreedom of movement in order to reach and adjust any under members of acar, as well as aligning the wheels, without having to continually crawlunder the work bar. The bench can readily be tilted to the angle. ofhigh caster pitch axles and adjusting camber without causing the axle tobend forward or backward for the adjustment. The clamps are used toaffix and strengthen hook-up of correction tools in obtaining exactalignment of wheels and also hold the beam stationary as a work orreaction bar and overcomes the usual danger caused by excessive pull orstrain in correcting front ends or axles of cars, thus affordingprotection to the operator against side slips or tilt.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will beable to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts suchas come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted in,in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described my invention, that which I claim as new and 'desireto procure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wheel aligning stand adapted to be secured within a work pit toextend substantially on a level with the top edge of the pit, said standcomprising pairs of transversely spaced longitudinally aligned piers ofI-beam construction being wider on their lower ends than on their upperends, parallel lintels secured upon The projections 99 and thelongitudinally spaced pairs of piers, longitudinally spaced trackwayssecured upon said lintels and formed with the adjacent ends of saidtrackways being undercut, turntable supporting plates disposed upon saidlintels between the adjacent ends of said trackways and formed withopposed cut-out inner edges, guard supporting sockets on one end of saidlintels, wheel guards detachably supported in said sockets, attachingflanges on the opposite ends of said lintels, anchoring bolts extendingthrough said attaching flanges being imbedded within a vertical wall ofsaid pit, anchoring bolts extending through the base flanges of saidI-beam piers imbedded within the floor of said pit, longitudinallyextending supporting angle iron flanges on the inner sides of saidlintels, and a reaction bar supported for longitudinal adjustment uponsaid angle iron flanges and vertically adjustable through said opposedcut-out portions of said turntable supporting plates whereby either endof said reaction bar may be elevatedto and abov the level of saidtrackways.

2. A wheel aligning stand adapted to be secured within a work pit toextend substantially one. level with the top edge of the pit, said standcomprising pairs of transversely spaced longitudinally aligned piers,parallel lintels secured upon the longitudinally spaced pairs of piers,longitudinally spaced trackways secured upon said lintels and formedwith the adjacent ends of said trackways being undercut, turntable sup"porting plates disposed upon said lintels between the adjacent ends ofsaid trackways and formed with opposed cut-out inner edges, means foranchoring said lintels to a' vertical wall of said pit, means foranchoring said piers to the floor of said pit, longitudinally extendingsupportingv angle iron flanges on the inner sides of said lintels, and areaction bar supported for longitudinal adjustment upon said angle ironflanges and vertically adjustable through said opposed cutout portionsof said turntable supporting plates whereby either end of said reactionbar may be elevated to and above the level of said trackways. 7

ALFRED GEORGE HORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Haucke l July 27,.

